Although I travel frequently with my children, I’d never considered a cruise. I knew, of course, how popular cruises are with families, but I wasn’t sold on the idea of being trapped on a ship, no matter how big. When I learned that Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas had just started sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey, just outside of New York City, I decided to finally take the plunge with my two younger children. The new itinerary meant that we could get to the ship by driving about four hours from my home in Washington, DC.
As we approached the port, I was still nervous that my kids and I would be bored after a week on a boat. I reminded myself how much I enjoyed my first trip to an all-inclusive resort despite similar worries, though, and hoped for the best. Now I’m happy to report that the cruise was a huge success. Here’s why I changed my tune on cruising.
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There’s a lot to do on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas
My fears about being bored evaporated as soon as I saw all of the activities available onboard. In addition to several pools and hot tubs, Symphony of the Seas also has a mini-golf course, a zip line, an ice skating rink, laser tag, rock climbing, a FlowRider simulated surfer, a carousel, an enormous 10-story slide, nightly movies and shows, and a sports deck, just for starters.
My kids found fun touches just wandering around, including a musical staircase that plays different notes on each step. Once, we encountered a piano player on an elevator. The ship also hosts special events, including an event with carnival games that my kids enjoyed. There was a good mix of organized activities, such as kids’ soccer matches and teen-only ice skating sessions, and downtime.
Our guest room wasn’t huge, but it was more than enough
My children and I shared one stateroom with a balcony. Although the room was not huge, it was big enough for the three of us. The room was thoughtfully laid out, which left us plenty of space for all of our things. My son called the balcony “life-changing” as he watched the waves in the Atlantic Ocean.
I enjoyed sitting on the balcony at night after the kids went to sleep. On my next cruise, I would want a balcony again, but it wouldn’t be a deal-breaker if I could only afford an interior room since we didn’t spend much time there.
Dining was a highlight
Cruise ships are known for their expansive buffets. Although I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of quality, I was expecting a good variety. Fortunately, the buffet aboard Symphony of the Seas was both high-quality and delicious. My kids and I enjoyed avocado toast for breakfast and salads and pasta for lunch and dinner.
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My favorite restaurant on the ship was the Solarium Bistro with Mediterranean fare, which is available to all passengers at no extra cost. We also sprung for a couple of premium restaurants that cost a little more. Eating at Wonderland, a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant, was a magical experience that I highly recommend to anyone with kids. We also had a meal at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Jamie’s Italian, which was a fantastic feast.
My kids and I also each got an unlimited drink package. A drink package isn’t a must-have since drinks are served with meals and coffee, water, and tea are available all day. However, it was nice to be able to get unlimited mocktails, hand-crafted coffees, and milkshakes. A highlight was ordering custom drinks that were created by a robot. I will probably get the drink package again.
Shore excursions
The new Symphony of the Seas itinerary from New Jersey includes three stops. We booked excursions at two stops (Port Canaveral, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas). At Port Canaveral, we visited Gatorland. There were tons of other options, including visiting Kennedy Space Center, heading to Universal Studios or Disney World, and more.
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In the Bahamas, we took a jeep tour to see historical sites and downtown Nassau. We also explored the upscale port. Just like in Florida, there are many options to choose from, including a day at the beach and a visit to Atlantis, which boasts a legendary waterpark.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Our third stop on Symphony of the Seas was at Royal Carribean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is also in the Bahamas. My kids and I splurged on the island’s Thrill Waterpark, which has an enormous wave pool, huge waterslides, and more. We also spent a couple of hours at one of the island’s gorgeous beaches.
Perfect Day at CocoCay was beautiful and we had plenty of included food and drinks. It really was a perfect day! For those who want more adventure, other activities, such as a glass bottom boat ride and swimming with pigs, are available on the island.
Royal Caribbean’s teen club and kids club
Although a big part of a family vacation is, of course, spending time with family, it’s also nice to get a little time apart. I often travel as a solo parent with my kids and don’t always get downtime on my own, which is stressful for me. Royal Caribbean is known for its fantastic kids clubs and this was a huge draw for my children and me.
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The first night we were aboard, my 13-year-old daughter went to a meet-and-greet for teenagers and quickly made a group of friends she still stays in touch with a few months after our sailing. My nine-year-old son was thrilled with the kids club where he played games, completed art projects, and conducted science experiments. He liked the kids club so much that he was upset whenever he saw me arrive to pick him up.
By the end of the trip, I found myself wishing my kids would spend more time with me, but I was happy to see them enjoying themselves and used some of the time I had on my own to enjoy the adults-only portion of the ship.
